Lord Heartless Read Online Free PDF

that moment, Juliet felt close to hate. If only the laws would permit her ownership of her own means. If only she had been left some sort of resource to try and bring Holly Grove back to its glory. If only…. The words no longer brought her any comfort. “If only” existed in the frame of those silly words found at the end of fairy tales, for there would be no prince to redeem her reputation.
    “Then, let us join forces to put this misery behind us. I propose we marry.”
    “Marriage!” She gasped and walked a few feet beyond the where he stood. Then turning she shook the paper in his direction. “My lack of financial support and your blackened honor are no reason to wed.”
    “On the contrary, it is the very reason to join our two houses. If nothing else, then to thumb our noses at conventional society.”
    Dumfounded, she stared at him. “You are mad.”
    He closed the gap, his eyes growing fiery. “No, not in the slightest. It is not a love match, of course, more marriage of convenience. I would lend you my name, provide resources to bring Holly Grove back to its greatness, thereby raising your station in life.”
    “Raising my station!” she snapped and stared at him in disbelief. “And in return, what would I have to do?”
    “Be my wife, give me legitimacy. By doing this, you will help me salvage what my family has held against me. I see how much you care about the town, its people. I could raise my horses here and bring jobs to bolster the economy. All I ask is that you accompany me to London four times a year, host a party or two at my home, and allow me to visit you….”
    Suddenly, his meaning was more than clear. Juliet lost reason as her anger mounted. “You mean to warm your bed?”
    Lord Montague hung his head like an errant schoolboy scolded. “I should like a legal heir.”
    “How generous of you.”
    “I admit it is not the best situation.”
    “No, it is not,” she agreed. Her voice grew low and her teeth clenched together as she spilled out the words with all the indignity she could muster. “Milord, even in the country, words and tales of your exploitations fill the ears of the gossips. You perhaps have forgotten Lady Richard’s summer home is but three miles from town. Both of us remember well how easily your exploits take flight.”
    “You were at Lady Richard’s party?” Landon asked. “I must admit I don’t remember seeing your face. Did we dance? No, we couldn’t have, you would have been barely ten and six at the time.”
    Juliet gave him her best look of distain. “I accompanied my father and watched from the landing at the second floor as you tried to seduce Lady Scarborough in the shadows, only to be brought to heel by her husband.”
    “Yes, I remember the scandal. But in my defense, no man is perfect. She did manipulate the situation to her advantage.”
    “Did she? Or is this your way of a defense?”
    “You have done your homework. But she was a flirtation, a woman starved for attention.”
    “I see.”
    “Do you?” Landon asked, his disbelief obvious.
    Juliet paused and let his answers sink in before she spoke. “I admit, I do not understand the situation fully,” she replied. “Then, you’ve never made a secret of your carousing.”
    She would have rambled on had Landon not reached out and touched her arm. Juliet snatched hers away and walked down toward the horse, who was calmly eating the few bits of hay left to the ground.
    “Hear me out, Lady Juliet,” she heard him call as the sounds of his footsteps followed. “Should you agree to this marriage, you need not suffer another scandal.”
    “An empty promise.”
    Juliet watched as Landon paused. The look on his face would have been the same had her hand found his cheek. A darkness seemed to overtake his eyes. He drew himself up to his full height and peered down at her.
    “I only thought to provide you with a home rather than a bed of straw in the county poor house.”
    As much as she hated it,